Outdoor court to be named for coach Bradshaw

Longtime basketball coach Dale Bradshaw was inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, the St. Vital Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Recently, it was announced that his name will be forever linked with the new Dale Bradshaw Outdoor Basketball Court being built at Dakota Collegiate.

Dakota is where Dale coached teams from 1968 to 1982. His teams reached the Final Four nine times, were seven-time finalists and five-time AAAA champions. Those numbers are astounding. His views on basketball were respected far and wide and his nickname was "the dean."

Over the years, Bradshaw coached Manitoba provincial teams at western and national Championships, medalling nine times.

He has recently been battling stomach cancer but I saw him at the Dakota Collegiate gala fundraising dinner last month. He spoke to the large crowd and was charming, funny, and obviously honoured to have the new court named after him.

"This was a totally unexpected honour," he said. "It is very personal. My years at Dakota were a special time. The feeder schools had wonderful coaches and we were privileged to have such talented athletes. A lot of people contributed to our success right down to our custodian, Syd Atkins, who opened up the school every day at 7:15 so the keeners could get in extra work."

I think Dale had something to do with the success, as well.

City councillor Brian Mayes, a Dakota alumnus, may not have been a great basketball player but he has a lot of admiration for Bradshaw. Mayes has been integral in securing funds for Dakota’s expansion plans at the school along with support from councillors Lukes and Pagtakhan. He confided in me that one of the best things about politics is that sometimes you get to do something you really believe in and want to support.

This court is one of those things.

After I graduated from Dakota, I helped out with the freshman basketball team and had many discussions with Dale. Those discussions always reverted to basketball. I’m sure he dreamt about zone defences and out-of-bounds plays.

I look forward to shooting hoops one day on the Dale Bradshaw outdoor basketball court and remembering those great teams that brought such excitement to my high school years.

John Hindle is a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email him at john@johnhindle.com